Sauber's Calderon to test current F1 car in Mexico

Sauber's Calderon to test current F1 car in Mexico

Sauber test driver Tatiana Calderon will get her first test of a Formula 1 car during a promotional event next week in Mexico.

The 25-year-old will drive this year’s Sauber C37 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Tuesday in an event supported by Mexican telecommunications company Telcel. The Colombian is Sauber’s test driver alongside her GP3 duties this season and will become the first female Latin American driver to sample a current F1 car.

“I am very thankful and excited about the opportunity given to me by the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team, Escuderia Telmex, Telcel, Infinitum and Claro to drive a Formula 1 car for the first time in my career,” Calderon said.

More Formula 1!

“Since I started racing, my dream and goal has been to drive at the highest level one day. It will be an incredible experience to discover the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez from the cockpit of the Sauber C37 in Mexico City. As a Latin American driver, there could not be a more special place for me to make my debut behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.”

Team principal Frederic Vasseur says Calderon deserves the opportunity to drive the current car, having worked with Sauber for a number of seasons.

“We are pleased to announce that Tatiana Calderon will be driving our car during a promotional event in Mexico,” Vasseur said. “Over the past two years of our collaboration, Tatiana has proved to be a valuable part of our team by continuously showing her dedication to our project, as well as a very strong work ethic and enthusiasm for our sport.”

Carlos Slim Domit, chairman of Telcel’s parent company America Movil, views the event as a major milestone for women in motorsport.

“We are very proud to be part of Tatiana’s project,” Slim Domit said. “Her career has been built with talent, effort, sacrifice and dedication which is widely reflected in her results that have made her the first Latin American woman to be part of a Formula 1 team with the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team.

“This allows her to achieve a new goal representing an important step in her career and pride for all race fans in Colombia and Latin America, particularly for women and racing in general.”

As a promotional event with a current car, Calderon will be limited to a maximum of 100km/60 miles — 23 laps of the circuit — on special Pirelli tires.

Chris Medland

While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor.
Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, he contributes to BBC 5Live and Sky Sports in the UK as well as working with titles in Japan and the Middle East.